Window regulator mechanism



Sept. 20, 1966 R. H. CHAMPION WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 31, 1964 IN VEN TOR.

R a m A r. a M QM Sept. 20, 1966 H. CHAMPION 3,273,285

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO'R.

United States Patent 3,273,285 WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Richard H. Champion, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 341,504 Claims. (Cl. 4940) This invention relates to window regulators in general and more particularly to window regulator mechanisms for use in automotive vehicles.

Automotive vehicles include window panels which are required to be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle body structure and which frequently require all of the supporting and guiding mechanism to be obscured between vehicle body panels. The necessary supporting, guiding and regulating mechanism becomes increasingly complex with window panels which have vertical or compound curvature, include no outer disposed guides or tracks and require a pivotal rather than a straight vertical movement.

Aside from the problems of stable support in the course of raising and lowering a window panel, as well as in the terminal disposition thereof, each window glass member must be carefully manipulated by a suitable guiding and regulating mechanism to pass readily through a vehicle body or door opening of minimum width. Ideally, this opening should be no wider than the thickness of the window glass member, with but modest clearance. This becomes very diflicult when the window glass member includes compound or vertical curvature, pivotal movement is required, and the housing space into which the window panel is lowered must be held to a minimum width.

Heretofore, window regulator mechanisms for the complex tasks mentioned have included numerous parts, requiring close tolerances, and have been expensive to manufacture, install and service.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator mechanism which will cope with the most complex of the problems mentioned and is relatively simple in construction, involves very few parts and is therefore less expensive to manufacture and easier to install and service than like mechanisms heretofore known and used.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator mechanism particularly suitable for use with window panels having a vertical or compound curvature, but one which is not necessarily limited thereto.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator mechanism for manipulating a window panel having vertical or compound curvature through a relatively narrow window panel passageway which may use conventional weather stripping.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator mechanism which will laterally position a window glass member in the course of this vertical movement and without the use of complicated tracks and guideways.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator which assures positive control and stability of the Window panel member in the course of movement, and in its terminal disposition, with minimum contact therewith so that frictional drag is minimized.

It is an object of this invention to provide a window regulator mechanism wherein the window panel member swings about a fixed pivotal axis and also moves axially thereof as the panel member moves between open and closed positions.

These and other objects and advantages to be gained in the practice of this invention will be better understood and appreciated on the reading of the following 3,273,285 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 ice specification in regard to a preferred embodiment of the invention and having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary partially broken away side-elevational view of a vehicle body embodying a window regulator mechanism according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partially broken away sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line 2--2 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the plane indicated by line .3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view taken along the plane indicated by line 4- 4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 55 of FIG- UR'E 1.

Referring to the drawings now in further detail:

The automotive vehicle body 10 is shown to include a folding top 1-2, a vehicle door 14, and a vehicle body quarter panel '16. A Window panel member 18 is mounted within the vehicle body quarter panel 1 6 and is pivotal from an open position therewithin to a closed position as shown by means of a regulator mechanism 20 Within the vehicle body structure.

The window panel regulator mechanism 20 includes a base support or mounting frame member 22 within which the window glass panel 18 is secured. The mounting frame member 22 includes a pivotal support 24 at one end thereof and is guided by a track member 26 engaging the other end thereof. Lateral guide means 28 are provided at the pivotal end of the mounting frame for lateral adjustment of the window panel member in the course of its pivotal movement, as will later be described. Such movement is effected by the operating mechanism 30.

The operating mechanism .30, for raising and lowering the window panel 18, includes a gear segment 32 which is driven by a pinion gear 34 operated by a crank handle or other means not shown. An operating arm 36 secured to the gear segment 32, and rotated therewith, is pivotally and slidably secured to a cam channel 38 secured to the frame member 22.

The guide track member 26 is arcuate in shape and has an inwardly open channel section which provides a guideway 40 receptive of a follower pin 42 projecting outwardly from the extended end of the window panel supporting frame member 22. The follower pin 42 is provided near the lower edge of the mounting frame 22 and atfords a safety stop for the window panel member 118 in the lower disposed disposition thereof.

The guide track 26 is retained and positioned in the vehicle body 10 by brackets 44 and 46 provided at 0pposite ends thereof. The upper bracket member 44 is relatively fixed with respect to the body opening through which the window panel member 18 is required to pass. The lower bracket member 46, as shown in FIGURE 2, includes an elongated arcuate slot 48 which permits adjustable positioning of the track in the vehicle body to any position between the solid line position and phantom outline position shown and identified 26.

The pivotal end of the mounting frame 22 includes, or is formed to provide, a journal bearing block 50 having a shaft 52 extended transversely therethrough. The ends of the shaft 52 are received in supports 54 and 56 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to the body inner and outer panels. The shaft receptive passageway 58 through the frame member is formed to provide a swivel joint conducive to limited transverse pivotal movement of the window panel member for purposes later explained.

A member formed to provide a downward and outwardly disposed follower or finger projection 60 is also provided on the mounting frame 22. The finger projection 60 extends radially from the pivotal axis of the window panel supporting shaft 52.

Referring now principally to FIGURES l and 2, an opening 62 is provided in the pillar wall 64-. This opening is closed by a plate 66 which has an elongated guide slot or cam 68 provided therein and extended diagonally thereacross.

The downwardly and outwardly disposed finger projection 60 which is provided on the pivotal end of the mounting frame 22, is received in the elongated slot 68 and, accordingly, the mounting frame and window frame member supported thereby will be laterally shifted in the course of their pivotal movement.

The window panel member 18 must pass through an opening or passageway 70 having suitable weather stripping 72 provided on opposite sides thereof. It must pivotally move from a sealing position with the weather stripping 74, which is a part of the folding top 12, into a storage position within a space 76 provided between the vehicle body inner and outer panels.

When the operating mechanism is actuated, the window panel member 18 is pivotally lowered with its supporting frame 22 into the space 76 provided between the body panels. The far end of the mounting frame 22 is guided in the track 26. At the same time, the pivotal end of the frame is guided by the finger projection 60 in the diagonally extended guide plate slot 68 and is, accordingly, laterally shifted inwardly on the supporting shaft 52 while the window panel is being lowered.

It will be appreciated that only the curvature of the window glass panel 18 which lies on the tangent line of the opening 70, relative to the pivotal axis of movement, is of concern. Furthermore, progressively less of the quadrant shaped window panel member 18 is of concern as it passes below the line of the opening. By laterally shifting one end of the mounting frame, the curvature of the glass is, in effect, threaded through the opening in the course of pivotal actuation.

Although the lateral adjustment afforded the pivotal end of the mounting frame is relatively small, being only the vertical distance between the opposite ends of the elongated guide slot 68, the relative adjustment of the window may be increased by adjustably positioning the track 26 to the desired position within the limits of the slot 48. The track is positioned in an empirical manner and the position of the track will vary for each individual window installation.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, a pair of rollers 78 and 80 are pivotally mounted on suitable support brackets 82 secured to body mounted brackets and are engageable with the window 18 in all positions thereof. The window frame 22 is cut away on opposite sides thereof at 84 to permit the engagement of the rollers 78 and 80 with the window 18. Although the rollers 78 and 80 are shown in vertically staggered relationship, they may be otherwise disposed if desired. The rollers 78 and 80 and the guide followers 42 and 60 form a stabilizing triangle to ensure control of the movement of the window 18 as it is raised and lowered.

There is significantly very little movement inhibiting frictional engagement with the window panel supporting frame 22 by either of the guide means or elsewhere. Both the vertical and simultaneous lateral movement of the window panel member is accomplished through the use of a mechanism including very few parts, all of which are relatively simple in construction, easy to install, adjust and to service if necessary.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, with certain emphasis on particular features, it is to be understood that the over-all combination and individual features are both to be considered along with such variations and modifications therein as are within the spirit and scope of the teachings set forth and embodied in the hereinafter appended claims. The broadest interpretation is to be given the language of the appended claims and no limitations are to be imposed other than as are specifically recited thereby.

I claim:

1. A window regulator mechanism for automotive vehicles, and comprising, a mounting frame receptive of the lower edge of a vertically curved and disposed window panel member, pivotal support means provided adjacent one end of said mounting frame and including means defining an axis extending transversely of said frame and supporting said frame for pivotal movement in the general plane of the window, guide track means formed and disposed for guiding engagement with said frame adjacent the other end thereof in the course of pivotal movement of said frame about said axis, and means shifting said frame axially along said axis in the course of pivotal movement of said frame about said axis.

2. The window regulator of claim 1, said shifting means including a guide plate member having a guide slot provided therein and extended diagonally thereacross and a guide slot follower provided on said mounting frame.

3. In a vehicle body structure having a window panel storage space provided between spaced vehicle body sidewalls, a relatively straight and narrow window panel opening providing access to said space, and a window panel member having vertical curvature, means for pivotally raising and lowering said window panel through said opening, and comprising, a window panel supporting frame member having means of pivotal support therefor provided transversely through one end thereof and between said vehicle body sidewalls, guide track means engaging the extended end of said frame member in the course of pivotal movement thereof and having the upper disposed end thereof retained in relative fixed location to said window panel opening and the lower end thereof laterally adjustable, a guide slotted member disposed next adjacent and transversely of the pivotally supported end of said frame member, a follower member provided on said frame member and engaged with said guide slotted member, said window panel supporting frame member being laterally adjustable relative to said pivotal support means in the pivotal actuation thereof and the guided engagement of said follower member with said guide slotted member, and said guide slotted member being formed and said guide track means having the lower end thereof adjustably disposed for synchronous pivotal and lateral adjustment of said window panel member in accord with the vertical curvature thereof in the passage thereof through said relatively straight and narrow window panel opening.

4. A window regulator mechanism for a vehicle window movable between open and closed positions with respect to a vehicle body window opening comprising, in combination, means mounting said window on said body for pivotal movement in the general plane of said window between open and closed positions, said mounting means including an axis transverse to said window, and means located on the body and on the window for moving said window axially along said transverse axis upon pivotal movement thereof about said axis.

5. A window regulator mechanism as recited in claim 4 wherein said moving means includes cooperating cam and cam follower means on said body and on said win- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,971 5/ 1912 Hansmann 20-53 1,904,110 4/ 1933 Willmann 20-53 2,575,679 11/ 1951 'Parkhurst. 2,763,508 9/ 1956 Gelfand. 3,093,404 6/ 1963 Probst 296-44 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, P. GOODMAN,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. A WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, AND COMPRISING, A MOUNTING FRAME RECEPTIVE OF SAID LOWER EDGE OF A VERTICALLY CURVED AND DISPOSED WINDOW PANEL MEMBER, PIVOTAL SUPPORT MEANS PROVIDED ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID MOUNTING FRAME AND INCLUDING MEANS DEFINING AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID FRAME AND SUPPORTING SAID FRAME FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN THE GENERAL PLANE OF THE WINDOW, GUIDE TRACK MEANS FORMED AND DISPOSED FOR GUIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FRAME ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF IN THE COURSE OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME ABOUT SAID AXIS, AND MEANS SHIFTING SAID FRAME AXIALLY ALONG SAID AXIS IN THE COURSE OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FRAME ABOUT SAID AXIS. 